Santa Rosa

Route 66

Event: Route 66 Festival, second weekend in September, includes the Pecos River Motorcycle Rally and Billy the Kid Poker Run

Santa Rosa has the distinction of being the City of Natural Lakes (15) in the Desert Southwest. If you are missing a great diving experience and think it is very far away, check out the Blue Hole. There is also Santa Rosa Lake State Park (and others), where you can boat, ski, camp or fish.

History

In 1865 Don Celso Baca built a hacienda and started a cattle operation between El Rito Creek and the Pecos River. In 1879, to honor his wife, Dona Rosa Viviana Baca y Baca, he built an adobe chapel and dedicated it to the first canonized saint of the New World, Santa Rosa de Lima. Remnants of this charming and historic shrine, along with the original Baca hacienda, are still standing today.

In 1901, 4,000 workers came to live in Santa Rosa to connect the Southern Pacific Railroad with the Rock Island Railroad. After the railroad workers moved on Santa Rosa became a farming and ranching community. When Route 66 arrived so did many new commercial businesses, many of whom still remain.

Guadalupe County Courthouse

WPA in Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa has two great examples of WPA architecture. The Guadalupe County Courthouse, currently under renovation, is a beautiful example. It is a two-story stone structure with bird sculptures guarding each corner of the exterior.

The Santa Rosa Middle School is the second example. It is a single story stone building with the attention to detail typical in WPA work.

Museums and Culture

Santa Rosa Middle School

Route 66 neon and businesses abound. Check out the Route 66 Auto Museum to view a great selection of hot rods and other period vehicles. For more information, http://www.route66automuseum.com/

Contact:

Richard Delgado
Santa Rosa MainStreet
P.O. Box 429
244 S. 4th Street
Santa Rosa, NM 88435
Phone: 575.472.3404